(CNN)- Saying nearly half of all new jobs in the next decade will require a post-high school education, "yet, as many as a quarter of our students aren't even finishing high school," President Obama called for improvements in and new emphasis on American education.

"In fact, to every young person listening tonight who's contemplating their career choice, if you want to make a difference in the life of our nation, if you want to make a difference in the life of a child, become a teacher. Your nation needs you," Obama said in his State of the Union address.

Good evening. I’m Congressman Paul Ryan from Janesville, Wisconsin – and Chairman here at the House Budget Committee.

President Obama just addressed a Congressional chamber filled with many new faces. One face we did not see tonight was that of our friend and colleague, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona. We all miss Gabby and her cheerful spirit; and we are praying for her return to the House Chamber.FULL POST

(CNN)- President Obama called on Republicans and Democrats in Congress to work together to reform corporate tax laws "to simplify the system."

"Get rid of the loopholes. Level the playing field. And use the savings to lower the corporate tax rate for the first time in 25 years - without adding to our deficit," Obama said in remarks prepared for delivery in his State of the Union address.

(CNN)- Congress should "take on, once and for all, the issue of illegal immigration,"President Barack Obama said Tuesday in remarks prepared for delivery in his State of the Union address.

"I know that debate will be difficult and take time. But tonight, let's agree to make that effort. And let's stop expelling talented, responsible young people who can staff our research labs, start new businesses and further
enrich this nation," Obama said in his prepared remarks.

(CNN)- President Barack Obama said Tuesday that by 2035, 80% of the nation's electricity should come from clean energy sources.

"I challenge you to join me in setting a new goal," Obama said in remarks prepared for delivery in his State of the Union address. "Some folks want wind and solar. Others want nuclear, clean coal, and natural gas. To meet this goal, we will need them all - and I urge Democrats and Republicans to work together to make it happen."

(CNN)–President Barack Obama is proposing a five-year freeze on non-security discretionary spending by the government. "This will reduce the deficit by more than $400 billion over the next decade," Obama said in remarks prepared for delivery Tuesday night in his State of the Union speech.

"This freeze will require painful cuts," Obama said in the prepared remarks, adding that some in Congress have already proposed deeper cuts, "and I'm willing to eliminate whatever we can honestly afford to do without. But let's make sure we're not doing in on the backs of our most vulnerable citizens."

(CNN) - President Barack Obama Tuesday signaled his willingness to revise his administration's controversial health care law passed last year. "Let me be the first to say that anything can be improved," Obama said in remarks prepared for delivery in his State of the Union address.

Obama added "we can start right now" by revising bookkeeping regulations in the law that have "placed an unnecessary burden on small businesses." But he said, "What I'm not willing to do is go back to the days when insurance companies could deny someone coverage because of a pre-existing condition."

10:41 p.m. ET - Rep. Bachmann: "Instead of a leaner, smarter government, we bought a bureaucracy that tells us which light bulbs to buy, and which will put 16,500 IRS agents in charge of policing President Obama’s health care bill."

10:49 p.m. ET - Minnesota Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann is now delivering her own response to the president's address. Read the full remarks here.

10:46 p.m. ET - Rep. Bachmann, who is delivering her own response to the president's State of the Union address is running late because she was stuck in traffic. CNN Political Producer Shannon Travis was told she was "barely moving" in her car. She was at the Capitol for the address and will deliver her remarks from the National Press Club.

10:35 p.m. ET - Paul Begala summing up the president's address: He was plain-spoken, not professorial. He was specific, not airy-fairy. He was patriotic and positive and practical.

10:34 p.m. ET - CNN National Political Correspondent Jessica Yellin: Talked to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell who said spending freeze is not enough. Senators Tim Scott, Alan West and Jeff Sessions said the same. They like idea of corporate tax reform. Senators Klobuchar and Sessions were dates and said they had a good time together and it felt better than sitting along party lines.

10:33 p.m. ET - Rep. Ryan: "Speaking candidly, as one citizen to another: We still have time… but not much time. If we continue down our current path, we know what our future will be. Just take a look at what’s happening to Greece, Ireland, the United Kingdom and other nations in Europe. They didn’t act soon enough; and now their governments have been forced to impose painful austerity measures: large benefit cuts to seniors and huge tax increases on everybody. Their day of reckoning has arrived. Ours is around the corner. That is why we must act now."

10:32 p.m. ET - Rep. Ryan: "It’s no coincidence that trust in government is at an all-time low now that the size of government is at an all-time high... The President and the Democratic Leadership have shown, by their actions, that they believe government needs to increase its size and its reach, its price tag and its power. Whether sold as “stimulus” or repackaged as “investment,” their actions show they want a federal government that controls too much; taxes too much; and spends too much in order to do too much."

Tonight I want to begin by congratulating the men and women of the 112th Congress, as well as your new Speaker, John Boehner. And as we mark this occasion, we are also mindful of the empty chair in this Chamber, and pray for the health of our colleague – and our friend – Gabby Giffords.FULL POST